May inflict a bad status condition on the attacker who hits it with a direct attack.*When the Pokémon is hit with a direct attack like Tackle or Scratch, the attacker is sometimes afflicted with the Poisoned, Paralysis, or Sleep status condition!*

When the Pokémon is hit with a contact move, like Tackle or Scratch, the attacker is sometimes afflicted with the Poisoned, Paralysis, or Sleep status condition.

In the anime

Effect Spore played a major role in The Power of Us. Team Rocket attempted to raid Fula City's Pokémon Research Pavilion, but only got away with a solution of Effect Spore made by Toren. They later dropped it on accident, which released a toxic gas that in turn triggered a devastating fire. Both disasters endangered Fula City, but Ash and the citizens worked together to successfully combat both.